LeBron James may be back for the Lakers since he’s healthy. However, he won’t be available in their NBA game tomorrow against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Following his scuffle with Pistons center Isaiah Stewart in their previous game which made rounds in the NBA 2021 news, the King was meted his first suspension in his 19-year career.
Speaking of Isaiah Stewart, he’ll also miss the next two games for the Pistons starting tomorrow when they’ll host the Heat at the Little Caesars Arena.
Elsewhere, the Blazers and Clippers host familiar faces in the Nuggets and Mavericks respectively in what would be rematches of their Western Conference first round clashes last playoffs.
Today, SBOTOP keeps you up-to-date by reviewing tomorrow’s four-game schedule.
Miami Heat @ Detroit Pistons
The Heat aim to bounce back after seeing their unbeaten run broken by the Wizards last Sunday.
Miami were enjoying a four-game winning streak and they defeated Washington in the first game of their mini-series, but the Erik Spoelstra-coached squad suffered a big collapse by squandering their 16-point lead en route to the loss.
Jimmy Butler led with a game-high of 29 points and he’s urging his team to do better tomorrow.
Fortunately for the Heat, they are favoured by the NBA 2021 odds to win since they’re taking on one of the worst teams in the league. The Pistons were defeated by the Lakers which saw them fall to 4-12 and they’ll have to cope without their starting center Isaiah Stewart.
They’ll rely on their go-to guy in Jerami Grant, who’s fresh from a 36-point effort in the last time out, while top overall pick Cade Cunningham will look to bolster his rookie campaign after tallying his first NBA triple-double.
Betting Tip – Miami Heat Asian Handicap -9.00 @ 1.80
Los Angeles Lakers @ New York Knicks
Despite getting the win against the Pistons last Sunday, this Lakers team still has ways to go towards their championship goals.
They are currently 9-9 which is only good for ninth in the Western Conference standings. But so are the Knicks in the Eastern Conference, who have a 9-8 record.
New York are also having their share of inconsistencies so far this season and they’re fresh from a loss against Chicago yesterday.
Julius Randle has been the bright spot for the Knicks but he’ll need consistent contributions from his other teammates like RJ Barrett, Evan Fournier, and Kemba Walker.
The Knicks are coming in undermanned as Derrick Rose (ankle), Taj Gibson (groin), and Mitchell Robinson (concussion) are all doubtful to play.
As for the Lakers, Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis would have to shoulder the load once more although solid performances from the two should be enough to get their 10th victory of the season.
Denver Nuggets @ Portland Trail Blazers
The Nuggets are desperate to end their four-game losing streak upon visiting the Blazers, who have won three consecutive games.
The injury bug hasn’t spared Denver as Nikola Jokic (wrist), Michael Porter Jr. (back), and Jamal Murray (knee) have all missed time due to injuries. With all of them doubtful to play, Will Barton, Jeff Green, and Aaron Gordon will all have to bring their A-game.
A win here would push their record to 10-8 and they’ll need it since they’ll continue their stretch of games against various playoff contenders.
The Blazers, meanwhile, are thriving on the offencive end thanks to the re-emergence of Damian Lillard. Earlier this season, Lillard hasn’t looked like himself since he shot poorly from beyond the arc. But in these past few games, he’s regaining his form.
Damian Lillard dropped a season-high of 39 points against the Sixers last Saturday and he was named Player of the Week alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Betting Tip – Portland Trail Blazers Asian Handicap -5.50 @ 1.92
Dallas Mavericks @ Los Angeles Clippers
The Mavericks and the Clippers are to square off for the second time in three days over at Staples Center.
Their last game ended in a 97-91 victory for the hosts as Paul George and Reggie Jackson combined for 52 points while Ivica Zubac had a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double.
Kristaps Porzingis led the Mavs with 25 points but it’s clear that they don’t look the same without Luka Doncic, who is dealing with ankle and knee problems.
The Slovenian star is deemed doubtful as of this writing, which is favourable for the Clippers heading into this game.
With Doncic not expected to play, Kristaps Porzingis would need to carry the offencive cudgels for Dallas alongside Jalen Brunson, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Dorian Finney-Smith.
Betting Tip – Los Angeles Clippers Asian Handicap -4.50 @ 1.87
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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